Tropical Cyclone Trends

Tropical cyclones in the Australian region are influenced by a number of
factors, and in particular variations in the El Niño –
Southern Oscillation. In general, more tropical cyclones cross the coast
during La Niña years, and fewer during El Niño years.

Analysis of historical tropical cyclone data has limitations
related to a number of changes in observing practices and technology
over time. With new and improved meteorological satellites our ability
to detect tropical cyclones has improved, as has our ability to
differentiate tropical cyclones from other lows such as monsoon
depressions. A particularly important change occurred in the late 1970s
when regular satellite images became first available from geostationary
satellites above the earth's equator.

Trends in tropical cyclone activity in the Australian region (south of the
equator; 90–160°E) show that the total number of cyclones
appears to have decreased to the mid 1980s, and remained nearly stable
since. The number of severe tropical cyclones (minimum central pressure less
than 970 hPa) shows no clear trend over the past 40 years.

Graph showing the number of severe and non-severe tropical
cyclones from 1970–2011 which have occurred in the Australian region. Severe tropical cyclones are those which show a minimum central pressure less than 970 hPa.

Potential changes in tropical cyclone occurrence and intensity (a
measure of wind speed alone rather than the amount of precipitation or
coastal flooding) are discussed in detail in the 2007 report, Climate Change in Australia, Technical Report –
Chapter 5: Regional climate change projections (8.9MB) See: Chapter
5.9.1 Severe weather: Tropical cyclones. There is substantial evidence
from theory and model experiments that the large-scale environment in
which tropical cyclones form and evolve is changing as a result of
greenhouse warming. Projected changes in the number and intensity of
tropical cyclones are subject to the sources of uncertainty inherent in
climate change projections. There remains uncertainty in the future
change in tropical cyclone frequency (the number of tropical cyclones
in a given period) projected by climate models.

Wind speed is only one aspect of tropical cyclones and their
impacts. The amount of heavy precipitation from all weather systems,
including tropical cyclones, is likely to increase. Increased rainfall
intensity from tropical cyclones is pertinent to Australia, since these
storms have historically been associated with major flooding.

Additionally, increases in storm surges and extreme sea-levels
are very likely to occur in association with tropical cyclones under
future climate change. This change is independent of changes in
tropical cyclone intensity and is directly related to increases in
global mean sea-level due to global warming.

Projected changes in tropical cyclone characteristics are inherently
tied to changes in large-scale patterns such as the El
Niño – Southern Oscillation, changes in sea surface
temperature and changes in deep convection. As global climate models
improve, their simulation of tropical cyclones is expected to improve,
thus providing greater certainty in projections of tropical cyclone
changes in a warmer world.